Last week as I happily went through another Valentine’s Day single – and not the I hate the celebration and want to be all anti type of single – I couldn’t help but cringe at the way this holiday has morphed over the years. Yes, it is still about the cards, candy and flowers. But it is also an excuse to be permissive, to drink too much, to hook up with strangers to drown out the pervasive loneliness. It’s overwhelming and disheartening at times.

The Love and Fidelity Network took a different approach to Valentine’s Day. Rather than focus on the single crazy day, the organization decided for a more long-lasting and positive message. From February 11-15, students at 25 universities, including Harvard, Georgetown, Stanford, and Holy Cross hung thousands of posters around campus, published ads in their school’s papers, and used social media to share a simple but profound campaign: Words That Still Matter.

There has been many a year where I’ve greeted Valentine’s Day morning with a bit of pining – rechecking my phone to make sure there wasn’t a message after all, looking for roses waiting at the front door, keeping an eye out for the postman…

Pathetic, but true. And I have a feeling that I’m not the only girl that has felt this way. No wonder the day rolls around with a myriad of Facebook posts about anti-Valentine parties and bitter tweets about the pitiable commercialism of the day. Why so harsh?

Unfortunately, in today’s society, too many girls deal with their longings for genuine love by putting down others that have been fortunate to find it. Why must we be this way? I feel that the media, and the way it constantly pits one female against the other instead of encouraging them to be happy for each other, has a lot to do with…
click here to read whole article and make comments

For years I’ve joked that I am going to write a book entitled something like, “How Romance Novels Ruined You.” The general gist of the book would focus on how reading all these lovely dovey romance books in high school and college distorts out perception of what real love is all about. I’ve seen it time and time again with friends and family. They expect love to be all about the romance, the flowers, the amazing dates, the feelings, and emotions. And then it’s like being hit upside the head when they realize love is hard work – really hard work.

After skimming through the current best selling young adult books on Amazon I’m even more convinced this is a book that needs to be written; especially because the concept of true love is being highly distorted thanks to a new genre that is being called ‘New Adult.’ New Adult, which targets the same audience as young adult, is what…
click here to read whole article and make comments

When I was in junior high a group of classmates and their older sisters decided I wasn’t cool enough to be in their orbit. It might have had to do with the fact that a guy my classmate liked, ended up liking me instead. But whatever the reason, they took it upon themselves to torture me in small nearly inconspicuous ways that I saw but teachers missed. It hurt, but I didn’t say anything to anyone and eventually they stopped. But today’s bullies aren’t just slipping notes in class or taunting in the cafeteria. They are taking to the internet and they are brutal.

One of the big social media news stories of 2012 was about a girl who took her own life after being bullied in persona and relentlessly online. She posted a YouTube video about her inner turmoil, explaining the whole story, and then a week later she committed suicide. On Facebook and YouTube she was abused. People…
click here to read whole article and make comments

There is an online trend right now that takes the idea of New Year’s Resolutions and flips it on its side. Instead of coming up with a long list of things you wished you lived, but might never achieve, this resolution path focuses on one word. How do you want to describe 2013? What’s the one word that encompasses a lot of what you want to achieve? Then for the next 12 months you focus on that word, instead of individual goals.

What do you think? What would your 2013 word be?

I think I’m going to adopt Health as my word.

For me, step one was joining a gym. I had belonged to one while living in Boston and St. Louis, but when life got crazy I didn’t make the time to go workout and so about 10 months ago I canceled my membership. After that I worked out sporadically on my own – going for a bike ride…
click here to read whole article and make comments

There have been some serious mixed reviews about Pantone's Color of 2013 announcement. It seems many women think Emerald is a horrible color, unflattering, ugly, and not worth purchasing. I, on the other hand, think the right shade of Emerald can be stunning. Other colors for the year include, dusk blue, lemon zest, African violet, poppy red and nectarine. These colors make me anxious for Spring, even if the true Winter weather has yet to begin.Whether you love or hate the color of 2013 here are a few ways to work it into your wardrobe in the coming months:

This information was sent to Tiger Print from the Love and Fidelity Network. It touches on such huge cultural issue right now, thanks in part to the popularity of books like 50 Shades of Grey, that I felt the need to post the full press release below.

Harvard University’s formal recognition of the “Harvard College Munch” last week comes as bad news for students seeking a healthy sexual culture and reasoned debated about human sexuality. Munch is a BDSM (short for bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism) club for college students.

“The Love and Fidelity Network opposes Harvard University's formal recognition and funding of a group that seeks to associate human sexuality with violence, oppression, and humiliation,” Director of Programs Caitlin Seery said. “Universities should foster an environment where the dignity and beauty of sexuality is honored and affirmed – and where reasoned debate is welcomed among those of goodwill who disagree over what…
click here to read whole article and make comments

Sitting around the crowded dinner table at Thanksgiving, my family has a tradition of sharing things from the last year for which we are thankful. My mind recalled a cold afternoon, up to my knees in dust and tiles, shoveling through the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. “Thank you for helping to clean up my town!” one woman said to me, emotion filling her voice. Despite the chill temperatures, her heart was warm. I was so moved by the glimmer of hope that people clung to as they surveyed their shattered lives. It was easy for me to be grateful.

Turns out, gratitude plays an important role, not only in rebuilding broken walls, but also in expanding our hearts and improving life satisfaction. A report from the Harvard Medical Association found that gratitude helps us refocus on what we have instead of what we lack. Those who count their blessings have less likelihood for depression, anxiety, or envy, while…
click here to read whole article and make comments

The holiday season is here, and despite all the reasons for pure, childlike excitement—peppermint mochas, anyone?—for the single gals among us, the holidays may also bring dread. How should you navigate those awkward dinner conversations, like the one with your overly concerned aunt who is eager to end the Great Boyfriend Drought of 2012 (and maybe also 2011)?

Before allowing the conversation to spiral into dire warnings of your ticking biological clock and stoic wisdom, like “First you think about who you will have; before long you are wondering who will have you!” (an actual quote from last year’s Thanksgiving dinner), we offer these suggestions for navigating the conversation minefield.

Capitalize on their concern. Ask them to set you up with someone eligible. “Who do you know?” works as a quick comeback.

Choose the lighter path. Laugh and stay cheerful: “Haha, auntie, no one was worthy to bring to your home!”

Today in the United States it’s Thanksgiving Day. Between the turkey carving, football games and slices of pumpkin pie, I like to take a step back to look at all I have to be thankful for. The list is long and truly overwhelming when I think of all that I have and how blessed I truly am to be living the life I am. In the spirit of the holiday, I wanted to point out a couple of the things I am truly grateful for this year. I wrote a similar post last year and find it fun to see what has changed and what remains the same.

Family – My computer background right now is of my entire family at my brother’s graduation from Marine bootcamp. Every time I see the picture, I smile and realize how truly amazing it is to have eight siblings who are turning into amazing people. Add…
click here to read whole article and make comments